Your Baby at Week 8

Grow, grow, grow — that’s what your baby’s doing round the clock at a pretty spectacular rate. By week eight your baby measures just over half an inch long and has grown from blueberry-size to the size of a big juicy raspberry. Much of baby’s bulk is taken up by its big head, where all that brain building activity is going on. Nerve cells are multiplying and connecting with each other — the beginnings of a neural network that will later transmit messages from brain to body.

But it’s not just the brain that’s bulking up. Growth spurts are happening all over baby’s body now. One place you’ll notice a big change: the arms and legs. Those limbs are getting longer and stronger thanks to newly developing cartilage and bones. Joint formation is also on the agenda this week, which means shoulders, elbows, and knees are just around the bend.

Fortunately, your baby’s tadpole tail isn't part of these growth spurts. It’s completely gone now and your embryo finally looks less reptilian and more human. He’s got the beginnings of a neck, the upper lip is forming, and there’s the sweet suggestion of a button nose. Tiny eyelids cover tiny eyes, and fingers and toes are developing, though they’re still webbed.

Your baby’s umbilical cord is visible now, and the intestines are starting to develop inside it. Don’t worry — those intestines will migrate into baby’s belly soon enough. Baby’s heart has divided into the right and left chambers and is beating around 150 beats per minute now. That’s more than twice the rate of yours!

It’s not just baby who’s getting bigger by the day. His cozy quarters are getting bigger, too. Your amniotic fluid increases by about two tablespoons a week so your roomie’s got room to move and keep on growing. It won’t be long before your bigger-by-the-minute baby and uterus start making your bump look bigger by the minute, too.

At a Glance

Here's Looking at You!

Baby blue? Sea green? Coffee brown? You won’t see your baby’s eyes for a while, but this week his retinas have begun to form.

Blue or Pink?

Your baby-to-be’s boy or girl parts are beginning to develop, but it’s still too soon for your doctor to detect which gender your baby will be.

All Systems Go

By the end of the week, all the essential organs and body systems have begun to develop.

Baby's Growing Fast

Your baby is growing at an amazing rate. How's she measuring up this week? At a length of about a half to two-thirds of an inch right now, your little one has graduated from blueberry-sized to raspberry-sized. But how big baby is has become a bit harder to estimate. Though growth occurs at about the rate of a millimeter a day, it isn't necessarily just in height. Spurts can happen in the arms, legs, back and other parts of that tiny body, meaning big changes are coming every which way in the next few months.

Baby's Got Lips, Nose and Eyelids

What else is changing at 8 weeks pregnant? A close-up view of your little embryo would reveal your baby is looking a lot less reptilian and a lot more baby-like: Even though she has webbed hands and feet, her teeny fingers and toes are just starting to differentiate now, and her tail is almost gone. You'd see an upper lip forming, the protruding tip of that cute button nose and tiny, very thin eyelids.

Heartbeats and Movements

All this growing is exciting for your baby too. How do you know? Her heart is beating at the incredible rate of 150 to 170 times per minute — about twice as fast as yours. And even though you can't yet feel it, she's now making spontaneous movements as she twitches her tiny trunk and limb buds. Your baby's digs are getting bigger, too. Amniotic fluid volume is increasing and your womb is expanding to accommodate its growing tenant.

Your Body at Week 8

Morning Sickness

While your babe isn't exactly causing you to show yet, chances are your clothes are feeling a little tight around the tummy. That's because your uterus, usually the size of a fist, has grown to the size of a large grapefruit by week 8 of pregnancy. Admittedly, that's still pretty small. But while it's unlikely you look pregnant from the outside — oh boy (or girl!), you almost certainly feel pregnant on the inside, especially when those insides threaten to come out all day long. Yes, it's that all too notorious pregnancy rite of passage: morning sickness — though the person who gave it such an inaccurate name was probably a man who never experienced it. If you're among the 75 percent of pregnant women who have morning sickness, you know all too well that it may start in the morning — but can linger all day and all night.

No one knows for sure what causes that queasy feeling (and does it really matter when you're about to toss your cookies for the third time today?), though theories abound. It could be because of the increased level of hCG and estrogen circulating in your body or the relaxation of the muscles of the digestive tract (making digestion less efficient) due to rising progesterone levels or the rapid stretching of the uterine muscles. Whatever the cause, take heart — your baby feels just fine, even while you're hugging the bowl. Try to eat often but only a little at a time, which should also help your body battle another stubborn woe coming your way soon: pregnancy heartburn. Most likely, nausea and vomiting will subside by weeks 12 to 14 (hang in there — only four to six more weeks until you get some relief!). For now, try to focus on the positive: Morning sickness is a sign that you're having a normal pregnancy. For more information, read more on preventing morning sickness.

Eating Fruit During Pregnancy

Fruit is always your friend — but consider it your best friend while you're expecting. Not only does nature's sweetest bounty contain essential vitamins and other nutrients that are good for you and your baby, but it plays a starring role in keeping you regular (pass the prunes, please!). More sweet news: The right fruit can stand in for just about any vegetable you're shunning when pregnancy aversions and nausea may be keeping you from bellying up to the salad bar. (For instance, opt for dried apricots when you can't stomach broccoli.) A good rule of nutritional thumb when it comes to fruits (and veggies): Stronger colors spell better nutrition. But more often than not, it's what's inside that counts. So while a cantaloupe pales in comparison with a red apple on the outside, the inside tells a different story: The deeply hued flesh of the melon way outscores the white apple in vitamin and mineral content. Select your produce by the color of its "inner" rainbow and you'll find nutrients worth their weight in gold.

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 8

What’s making you so tired these days? Try everything! Pregnancy is hard work and you should ask for help — from your partner, from your family and from your friends. Having your partner (or a pal) lend a hand means you might have enough energy to go out for a walk (and then go to bed!). Read More

Those queasy feelings may still be sticking around this week. Try eating foods with ginger (many studies show it works for reducing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy) — ginger cookies, real ginger ale or ginger candies. And try taking your prenatal vitamin during dinner rather than on an empty stomach. The chewable kind might also make you feel less queasy. Read More

Yet another bodily fluid introduced to you courtesy of estrogen — leukorrhea, a thin, milky vaginal discharge. (When estrogen increases blood flow to the pelvic area, it stimulates the body’s mucous membranes.) Leukorrhea protects the birth canal from infection by maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria, so don’t try to douche or wash it away. Read More

Along with the bloating and constipation comes that other common scourge of pregnancy: flatulence (aka passing gas). The (aptly named) hormone relaxin, along with progesterone, is working to relax the muscles in your body, including those in your gastrointestinal tract. This causes food to move along more slowly, which leads to indigestion and gassiness. What can you do about it (except apologize to those around you)? Try to relax when you eat — tension can cause you to swallow air along with your food and form gas pockets in your stomach. Read More

Fiber can be your BFF in the fight against those sluggish intestines, so add some fiber to every meal. But pace yourself if you’re not used to a fiber-rich diet or you’ll find yourself gassier than ever before: For instance, replace that white rice with brown and serve it along with your roasted chicken and veggies but don’t overload your system with a dish of brown rice, tofu and broccoli. Read More

Craving weird substances such as clay or laundry starch? Call your practitioner. These types of cravings are called pica and could be a sign of a nutritional deficiency, especially of iron. Read More

Tips for You This Week

Handle Headaches

Along with your expanding belly may come new aches and pains above the neck. Your blood volume will increase by just under 50 percent, which (along with those pregnancy hormones) may spur headaches. Got one? Talk to your doc about trading aspirin or ibuprofen for baby-safer acetaminophen.

Start Doing Squats

It may be a good idea to add squats to your exercise mix. Doing them strengthens and tones your thighs; during labor, they can help baby descend. Hold the position for 10 to 30 seconds and repeat five times.

Slather on the SPF

Out, out damned spot! For many, hormone surges in pregnancy can cause melasma, or dark spots on the skin and face. That means your skin, freckles and moles may look darker, there's probably a dark line down the center of your abdomen (the linea nigra) and your areolas could be a deeper shade. You’re not alone — this condition affects 50 to 75 percent of expectant mothers. You may be able to avoid melasma, however, by wearing a sunscreen with SPF 30 to 50 when outside.

Keep Track of Your Weight

Gaining gradually doesn't mean you'll gain evenly throughout your 40 weeks. But there is a pattern you should aim for. In your first trimester, you probably won't gain more than three or four pounds; and if you're suffering from morning sickness, you might not gain at all. As you head into the second trimester and then into your third, your weight gain should pick up speed (though not too much speed!). Plan to put on an average of a pound or so each week during months four through eight, or about 20 to 28 pounds. (The weekly gains will vary, of course, and as long as they average out to about a pound apiece, you're on target.) Once you've reached the homestretch in month nine, your baby's gain will continue with gusto, while yours will likely slow down significantly; you'll probably tally up a ninth-month total of about two to three pounds and might even lose in the days before delivery.

Ease Into Exercise

If you haven't worked out in a while, don't start out with a bang. Overdoing it can lead to injury, nausea, overheating and just plain exhaustion — plus, it'll make you more likely to quit when you're just getting started. Right now, ease into exercise; begin with 10 minutes of a gentle warm-up, followed by five minutes of strenuous exercise and a five-minute cooldown. Then increase the strenuous segment by five minutes every week until you hit 30 minutes.

Eat Foods You Can Stomach

Dealing with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy isn't easy — but it's especially hard when you're anxious to start feeding yourself and your baby well. Don't worry. As challenged as your tender first-trimester appetite is right now, it's still up to the challenge of filling your baby's nutritional needs (since he's just a little bigger than a pea right now, those needs are pretty tiny, too). In the meantime, if big meals are a big turnoff, eat at least six smaller but nutrient-packed mini-meals and snacks throughout the day. Not only will the mini-meals be easier for your queasy stomach to…um…stomach, but keeping your tummy a little bit filled is the best way to keep it from emptying out. Right now, focus on foods you find less offensive (even if it's crackers, crackers and more crackers), choosing a healthy option whenever your stomach doesn't protest (make those crackers whole grain, and serve them up with a slice of mild cheddar). And don't forget to tap into the soothing power of ginger!

Choose Healthy Carbs

Has the word "carb" become a four-letter one in your diet plan? Redefine it by choosing healthy complex carbohydrates that nourish your baby and fuel your energy needs. Check out this list of healthy carb options that reads like the roster of a nutritional all-star team (no Krispy Kremes in sight): fresh fruits; dried and freeze-dried fruits; fresh vegetables; whole-grain breads, crackers and cereals; baked potatoes (with skins on); dried beans and peas.

Updated: May 13, 2019

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.

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